Grid pasting machine



4 SheetsPSheet zI/zia/f:

Feb. 8; 1938. H. H. HENRY GRID PAsTING MACHINE Filed July 7. 1932 Feb. 8 1938. H. H. HENRY l 2,107,733

Garn msnm MACHINE Filed Jul y 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 8, 1938. H. H. HENRY GRID -PASTING MACHINE Filed Juvlyf, 1952 l{Sheets-Sheet 4 Q Nw. J Nb m kh; A mw. N U w u N N Nv retenes Feb. s, lisse4 f aromas Gam rssrnvoalicnmn H. llemmchicago, lll., alaignor, by meme assignments, to U s L Battery Corporation,

' Niagara Falls, N.

.York

Y., a corporation of New Appunti@ .my 7, rss2, No. 021,205

9 Clalml.

This'invention'relates to a grid pasting machine andmore particularly to a machine for applying the paste to storage battery plates or One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved machine of-sturdy and simplifled construction for applying paste rapidly and firmly to the gridsadgiving the grids or plates a finished appearance. Other specific objects advantages, such as .providing improvedy means for wiping the grids, improved means for conveying away the nnished grids, etc., will ap- -pearas the specification proceeds;

The invention is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in 'which-- Flg."l is a side view in elevation of apparatus embodying my' invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 3, an` enlarged broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan .sectional view. thesection being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5, a broken transverse sectional view,

tion beingtaken as indicated at line 8.0i Fig., l: Fig. '7,l'a front view in elevation; Fig, 8, a broken transverse sectional view, the section' be thevsection being taken as indicated at line l of Fig. 1'; Fig. 6, .a broken sectional view, the secing takenas indicated at linel I of Fig. 8; Fig. 9, a broken plan view of a 'portion of the grid to which paste has/been applied;` Fig. 1 0, a sectional view,-the section being takenl as indicated at line 'III of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11a side .detail view of chain apparatus for conveying away-the' finished plates.

Broad1y, the-aparstus includes, ss illustrated,

3 ,a supporting frame' A, conveyorapparatus- B, a

hopper for paste C, paste-feeding 'and packing' mechanism D, and grid-feeding mechanism E.

The frame A may be of anyk suitable construction. l.In the illustration given," the vertical' standards III support longitudinal tubular beams y I'I which are .transverselyjoined at their rear T-shaped cross-beam I4. `A similar cross-beam.

ends by a tubular cross-beam I2." Near their i'or-- .Ward ends, thev beams .Il are'provlded with cli' lars I3 'that have integrally formed therewith a- `II is supportedby the front standards I0. 0n each side of the machine isa relatively Vwide side frame or plate I6, the forward end portion of which rests upon the cross-beams I4 and .Ill

'lherear end portions ofthe side plates are.sup'

ported by the collars I8. Each'of thebeams. II is provided ne'ar its` rear portion with' a collar.- Awhich is recessed to receive a short Integral ex" (ci. 22H9) tension .Il with which the sides Il are provided (see Fig. 4). Each side plate I8 is preferably provided with outwardly turned flanges I 8*. A bed I1 is secured to and supported by the upper flanges It* of the side plates I8. Longitudinal beams 20 which are carried by the standards I0 at a point near their base, may be employed to support a motor 2i.

With the construction illustrated, the bed II, sides I8 andthe apparatus carried thereby may be bodily shifted, without'moving the standards It, for adjusting the tension of the belt conveyor B. As will be seen more clearly from Figs. 3 and 4, the rear portions ofthe sides I6 are supported by they shiftable collars Il while the forward ends-of the sides rest slidably on the crossbeams :I4 carried by the collar Il and on' vthecross-.beam Il. Thus by moving the collars I2, the apparatus carried by the bed and sides can beI advanced .or moved rearwardly on the lsupporting structure. To facilitate the shifting f collars Il, I prefer to thread the tubular beam, II at II and to secure on opposite sides of each collar Il the adjustable threaded members I8'. Each, of the members Ill is provided with shaft holes Ilh into which a shaft o r rod may be extended to facilitate the turning of the members. The vconveyor apparatus B may be also of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, a shaft 22 is journaled in the sides I8 at the .Torward'end ofthe frame and carries a drum 23.

Similarly, a shaft 24 is Journaled in the hollow cross-beam I2`at the rear of the apparatus and carries a large drum 25. Drums 23 and 25 carry the 4endless conveyor belt2i. In order to drive shaft 24, there is fixed to one end thereof a large gear 21 which mesheswith a pinion 28 carried by intermediate gear 2s. The gear 29 is in turn' v Y driven by pinion 30 on the shaft 3| of sprocket wheel v32. The wheel l2 is connected by vchain to the sprocket 34 which is fixed to the drive shaft of-motor 2i. 4 l y Ihe hopper C. whichmay be constructed in anysuitable shape or form, rests upon and is secured to the sides' I C. As shown more clearly in lifig. 3, aportion of thephopper is cut away on i its rear side, asindlcated a`t l! so as to leave an aperture along thebottom portion of the -rear wall. The bottom of the hopper is supported by the sides'it ashort distance above the belt 2l so astcjpermitthe grids to be marriedv along che bottom nde of the hopper. on tlierront side of hopper C is a"verticalvly adjustable plate C'.which extends above the belt 26. and which i vallo'rlrs the bottom-most grid to pass into the irons Cz which also serve ias lateral guides forthe grids.

` The grid-feeding and packing mechanism D isv preferably so arranged as to feed the paste constantly down to the moving grids, while at the same time packing the paste firmly and thoroughly into the vinterstices of the grid. In the illustration given, journaledwithin the hopper C at an intermediate height is a shaft 31 which f carries the blade' 38. The shaft 31 is provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel 39 driven by chain 40. The chain 40 engages a sprocket carried by the shaft of motor 2|. Ifdesired, an idle sprocket wheel 4| carried by adjustable bracket 42 may be employed to place the desired tension upon chain 40. The shaft 31 also carries a pinion 43 which meshes with .the large gear 44 on shaft 45. Shaft 45 extends intothe hopper C and carries a blade member 46. To the rear of the blade-equipped paste-feeding member 46 is a rotatably mounted tamping or packing roller 41 journaled upon shaft 48.` The shaft 48 carries upon its end extending outside of the hopper C a gear 49 which is driven, through intermediate gear 58, by the pinion 5|- carried by shaft 45.

Disposed in the rear end of the hopper C and behind the 'roll 41 is a buing roll 52 which'is fixed to shaft 53. The roll 52 ,is preferably formed from metal and is employed to engage the upper surfacesof the grids as they are advanced by belt 26 so as to pack the paste firmly into the grids and to finish or polish the upper surface thereof. Shaft 53, which carries the roll 52, extends outside of the hopper C and carries at its end a sprocket wheel 54. Sprocket wheel 54 is con.- nected by means of chain 55 to a sprocket 55a carried by the shaft 31. Preferably the sprocket 53 is of smaller diameter than the sprocket 54 so as to cause relatively rapid rotation of the roll 52. Secured to the rear wall of the hopper C is a scraper or doctor knife 56 which engages the forward portion of roll 52 and serves to remove the paste which would otherwise collect upon the surface ofthe roll.

'I'he grid-feeding mechanism E may be vof any effective form for feeding the grid plates to the conveyor belt 26. In the illustration given, a rear platform 51 is secured to the sides I6 of the frame and provides'a support for the grids and for the feeding mechanism. 'Ihe grid plates 36, formed in pairs, and having at their forward endsthe laterally projecting ears or extensions 36B, are stacked upon the platform to the rear of the. hopper C. A reciprocating plate 58 is guided between spaced strips 59and 60 so as to force the grids, one at a time, upon the moving conveyor 26. Any suitable means for reciprocating the plate 58 may be employed. In the illustration given, a chain 6| drivenby sprocket 621 on shaft 45 drives a sprocket wheel 63 on shaft 64.

The shaft 64 is rotatably mounted in the platformy extension 51 yand is equipped at an intermediate point .with a sprocket 65. The chain 66 connects sprocket to a sprocket 61 which is'flxed to a shaft 68 mounted in the forward part of extension 51. The shaft .68 is equipped at either 'end with an eccentric 69'connected by arm 10 toa depending Abracket 1|. Each of the brackets 1| extends through slots 12 in the plate 68 which permit reciprocation of the driven plate 58. f A

lvertical wall 13 is secured to the platform, 61,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to provide a compartment vfor the stack of grids 36.

` 14 has its free ends rotatably mounted in the bosses 15 (Fig. 6) which are slidably carried by xed shafts 16. A spring 11'carried by shaft 16 urges the bosses'15 downwardly. The pressure roller 14 is preferably provided with raised integral collars 18 which are provided with a superficial roughened surface or knurling. In order to avoid injury to the cross bars of the grid, the

collars 18 are preferably disposed, as shown in Fig. 6, with the wide collar traveling over the centralportion 'of the pair of grids while the narrowend collars travel along the outer sides of the grids.

To support 'the belt 26 as it travels under the open end of the hopper C, I prefer to employ an adjustable platen 19 which is supported by a pair of spaced c ross strips 88 and 8|. The ends of the cross strips 89 and 8| are adjustably supported by screws 62 which threadedly engage bosses carried by the side walls I6. With this arrangement, the ends of the platen 13 may be tilted in either direction as desired. The platen 18 terminates just short of the buiiimg roll 52.

To support the belt 56 immediately below the bumng roll 52, I prefer to employ a large yieldably mounted roll 83. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, each end of shaft 84 upon which roll 83 is carried, is journaled in a sliding block 85.

C, I prefer to subject them to the operation of improved wiper apparatus. As illustrated more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, a rotatable member 88 is journaled in brackets 89 supported by bed |1 and carries by means of collar clamps 98 a frame member 9|. Clamped to the frame 9| is a exible wiping element 92l which may be of any suitable material such as, for example, rubber. The wiping element 92 is supported obliquely with respect to the belt |6by reason of the spacing of the bracket members on bed |1, one bracket' member being supported on one side of the bed well in advance ofthe bracket member on the opposite side of the bed. Rigidly secured to the middle collar 98 is a shaft 93 upon which is slidably mounted a weight 94 which may be releasably secured in position by the screw 95.'A

In order to convey away the finished grids, I

employ any suitable conveyor apparatus as, for

example, the chain conveyors 96, which are shown in part in Figs. 1, 2 and 11. Such apparatus is of weil known construction and need not be described in detail. Supported on each side of' the bed. |1 and curved downwardly towardlyto vertical position, I prefer to employ a curved spring member 98 `which is supported by a cross strip 9.9. At intervals along the chain 96 are provided'lugs 985 which engage the ears 36* f grids 3 6 and. positively carry themforward.

The grids 36,-as illustrated more clearly in Figs.

9 and 1o, are provided with the relatively heavy ward the chains 96 are tracks or guide members roll M .and Malong. the top portion of the -belt.' At the endo! theJourney oi' theY grids. when they u .below the Yforward vthe-hopper C, the agitating'or-feeder-bl'ades 38 70 aired and there j aiovfrsa yhorilsontal beams or crossstrips il and with the somewhat thin vertical rods 36. v order to hold the grids 30. in .accurate position upon the` belt 20, I prefer to draw a web of paper across the top portion oi.' the belt as it passes beneath .thev hopper C and over the bed. Forl this purpose, aroll-oi paper ill may be supported onl shaft ill which is journaled in ilanges III! be'fed up throughtheguide `roller Il! over the are removed from -thebelt 26 .to the l'chain conveyor apparatus Il, .the paper-waste `may 4be 'allowed to -ifall to the yiloor where it may be between metal strips ill. In order to place the desired amount'ot friction upon the paper roll s o Vfas to cause litto feed smoothly and without `Ytoo rapid unrolling, I prefer to lemploy friction screws i which 'are supported in spaced order by the ilanges ll2 and which engage the -disks y Operation..

In'theoperation molded-.in pairs with the lateral projections. 36*

. lextending outwardly, are placed in a stack'at the forward end of the machine vand within the .wall

.13. :The reciprocating ieedplate "engages the pressure roll 14. 'Ihe roll 1 4 ,guides the-grid wall oi' vthe hopper C. "Within and It, which rotate in the direction indicated bythe i'eed the vpaste-downwardly into contact with the incoming grid.' The rollJlir as' indicated by' iirmly intothe inaccident in contact with the rapidly moving roll I2. In suchevent, the yieldable roll permits the grids to pass through. At the same time, the

roll Il maintains an even pressure against the uniform degree .of 11p-cunning desired. The conveyor belt 2l carries the 'grids 36 in spaced relation below the wiper member l2. By. employing a ilexible member together with a weighted on','the operator is able to remove from the grids the desired amount 'oi' paste and to place them in substantially iinished condition. The adjustable weight M may be'shitted'to Vthe pointde- .locked in position by screw I l.

The angular be exerted without at fthe same time breaking the' somewhat carried bythe standards 10.'. The paper may removed. Preferably, the paper roll is supported veyed away by the chains 'of the apparatus, ythe grids.A

bottom-most gridv and feeds it forwardly to the 'also serves to packe, -atthe same time,

lit) advantage .to fhold' the grid hopper in. substantially iiat condition. 'llhe yieldable roll Il, serves to,` prevent injury to the apparatus as when t'wo grids in superposed relation should be brought belt ze' `Justbemw the ron sz and provides' the;

or adjustable means for exerting pressure there.'

arrangement oi the' .wiper mem- V 'ber-permits the desiredmnount of pressureto :neue vertical una w. "me 15 angular position vor the wiper causes it to at all times upon a number ot the rather heavy cross strips vor beams 3l. kAt the same time, this arrangement prevents the wiper member from digging into the body of the grid and removing more of the paste at one point that. at another. 'I'he adjustable wiper straightens or ilattens any grid which may be bent and insures a uniform thickness. l ,The grids after passing the "wiper are conveyed by'belt 26 to the inclined tracks 91 where the'grids are separated from the paperl web. Thetracks 8 1 engage the lateral projections or ears ll 'of the grids and support the projections while the main body oi the grids swings to a vertical position sliding on-to the chain conveyor 96.

A' curved buffer spring or strip 981s supported by the -cross. piece I9 so as to prevent clashing of the grids as they swing to vertical position. The curved member ll engages the'central portion o! the grids and allows them to move gently to vertical position. 'Ihe Vfinished -grids are con- 9| to a desired point where they are removed. With the apparatus described, the work trame which supports the pack- 'ing apparatus \etc.,-may be .shifted upon the supporting structure without moving the standardsV Il. vBy turning the members il, the collar Il upon `each of the beams il may be shifted forwardly or back wardly. At the same. time, the

sides` I6 and bed i1 are moved with the collar '|8,1the front portion o! vthe sides i6 sliding upon y the -supporting cross-beams il and Il. By this mechanism,` the vtension of the conveyor belt 26 may be readily adjusted.

f. The foregoing detailed description has been .given for clearness of understanding only, `and no unnecessary limittions should be understood .therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim: 1. In a grid pasting machine, a frame, a. hopper forpaste mounted'on said trame,4 belt means tor/advancing grids through the hopper, packing .mechanism in'said hopper, and a tilted adjustable platen supported-below'said belt and below l said hopper.

.2. In a grid pasting machine, a frame, a hopper for mounted on said irame, said hopper being open at fits' bottom side, belt means for advancing grids through the hopper, a packing roller rotatably mounted in said hopper, a bumng v roller also rotatably journaled behind said packing roller, and a tiltable plate adjustably mounted below said belt and below said hopper.-

3. In apparatus of the character set forth. supporting standards, longitudinal .beams carried thereby, a cross-beam carried by said longitudinal beams, a work frame having one end slidably-suppoi'ted by lsaid cross-beam, adjustable collars slidably engaging` said longitudinal beams and supporting the other end or said frame, a drum rotatably mounted in said work trame, a second ldrum'rotatably carried by a pair of said standards, an endless belt carried by said drums, and an open-bottomed paste hopper supported 'over said belt in close proximity tosaid belt so that the belt for the hopper.

' 4. 'In a grid pasting machine, supporting standards. dilustable beams carried thereby, a slida'ble work-frame supported on said beams, a

.drum rotatably'mounted in said work-trame, a

second drum rotatably-carried by a'palr oi'said standardaanendielboltcarriedbysaiddnuns,

serves as a bottom closure for paste mounted on said frame, an endless belt l belt so that the beltv serves as a bottom closure for the hopper.

5. In a grid pastingmachine, a frame, a hopper for paste mounted on said frame, an endless belt for advancing grids through the' hopper, rotatable feeder means and packing means in said hopper, a driven roller rotatablyv journaled behind said packing means, and a tiltable plate adjustably mounted below said belt and -below said hopper. v

6. In a grid pasting machine, a trame, a hopper for paste mounted on said frame, van endless belt for advancingvgrids through the hopper, al

driven roll mounted in the hopper for packing paste into the grids, and a tilted platen supported below saidbelt and hav'ingone'end extending be- `low said packing: roll.

7. In a grid pasting. machine, a frame, a hopper aromas for advancing lgrids -through the hopper, a tilted plate adjustably mounted below said belt .and below said-hopper, a` packing rolll a'nd a polishing roll mounted in `said hopper so that on'e end of said plate lies substantially between, said rolls.

8. In a grid pasting machine, a frame, an open# y bottomed paste hopper carried by` said frame, a' pair of drums rotatably mounted at oppositefendportions of vsaid frame, an endless belt carried by said 'drums and closing thevbottom of said paste hopper, and a tiltable plate adjustably' mounted below said belt'and below said hopper.

9.'In a grid pasting machine, a Iframe, an f y open-bottomed hopper for paste mounted on said frame, av pair of drums rotatably mounted at opposite end portions ofv said frarnean endless belt carried by said drums and closing the lower end of said hopper, adjustable means for tightening said belt, and an adjustable platen supported by said frame below said belt andextendingsubstantially .across the bottom of said hopper.

VHARRY H. HENRY. 

